Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Cornish vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Lunenburg | Cornish | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
1,816Lowest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,221±$227Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,401 105% above U.S. |
$5,796Lowest 86% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lunenburg and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #87 of 282 in MA | — | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Cornish School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.